Engine intake attachment



Feb. 27, 1940. L. MECKL 2,191,940

ENGINE INTAKE ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 9, 1938 LORENZ MEC K L INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September3 I Claims.

This invention relates to means for improving the operation of internalcombustion engines, and more especially of such engines which due toextended use have lost some of their 5 eillciency on account ofblow-back" developing, whereby, due to wear or otherwise, part of thecylinder charge passes beyond the pistons to the crank case of theengine and admixes with the oil vapor in the crank case; one of theobjects I" or the invention being to effect a recovery at least part ofthis combustible fuel from the crank case vapors and'to return this tothe cylinders as an addition to the incoming charge through or from thecarburetor of the engine.

A further object is to provide for the induction to the charge stream ofthe engine of oil vapor. fromthe crank case of the engine in a mannerauxiliary of the said charge; and, still further, to effect the mixtureor air from the outside atmosphere with the said induced auxiliarycharge.

Still further, it is an object of the invention to provide condensermeans having a tendency to condense at least part of the heavier orlubricating oils from the said induced charge, and to return thecondensate to the crank case where this is deemed necessary or desirableIn its preferred form, the invention has as its object to provide anattachment for ready application to existing engines, and more espe-'cially to engines which have had some considerable use, said attachmentbeing in the form of a condenser having an inlet and an outlet, theinlet being provided with a means for connection to the breather pipe ofthe engine crank case, and the outlet with means for connection to theintake system of the engine or its carburetor; and still further thesaid invention contemplates a provision of an air inlet to the firstmentioned connection which inlet may receive the breather cap ordinarilyprovided on the said breather pipe.

Still further objects and advantages subsidiary to or resulting from theaforesaid objects or from construction or operation of the invention asit may be carried into effect, will become apparent as the saidinvention is hereinafter further disclosed.

In carrying the said invention into effect, I may provide a condenser inthe form of a flexible condenser pipe enclosing a core or baiile ofscreen material, suchas copper mesh, a fitting at the lower end or saidpipe of substantially Y formation the lower end of which seats in theopen end of the engine crank case breather 9, 1938, Serial No. 229,138

and the upper end of which fitting receives the breather cap ordinarilyapplied directly to the breather pipe, and a fitting on the upper end ofthe said pipe in the form of a collar adapted to be interposed betweenthe carburetor and the intake pipe of the engine, or more preferablysuperimposed on the intake opening of the carburetor; and, where an aircleaner is provided, preierablybetween the intake of the carburetor andthe said airv cleaner. All of which is more particularly described andascertained hereinafter, by way of example, having reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device applied to the breatherpipe and the carburetor of an engine, the condenser pipe being partlybroken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the breather pipe fitting; and

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the carburetor fitting.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts in the severalfigures of the drawing.

l indicates the crank case and 2 the carburetor'of an internalcombustion engine, 3 being the crank case breather pipe to which thebreather cap 4 is usually applied.

5 is a Y fitting having a spigot end 6 adapted to enter and fit in theopen end of the breather pipe 3 and a socket end 1 adapted to receivethe tubular stem a of the breather cap 4, which stem has any suitablyformed openings 9 therein to permit air to enter the same and therebygain access to the interior of the said fitting 5. The said fitting hasa branch I0 provided with the socket H to which a passage l2 from theinterior of the fitting communicates, and this socket is adapted toreceive the lower end of a pipe I3 which encloses a core I 4 of wiremesh, netting, or other suitable baflie means of any desirable form orconstruction suitable for the purposes of the invention as described.This pipe may be of a rigid nature, where its precise dimensional andlocation requirements are definitely known, but, as the device isintended to be adaptable to various sizes, types, and designs ofengines, it is preferred that the said pipe be of a flexible nature orat least be subject to being bent or varied as to form and relativedisposition of its ends.

I5 is a second fitting the body of which is in this example, providedwith a Venturi type opening l6 therethrough and a socket H at its lowerend adapted to engage the intake pipe of the/ carburetor 2, and a spigotextension H at its upper end adapted to enter outlet pipe 18 of an aircleaner IS, the said outlet pipe l6 may be secured to the said spigotextension I! by means of a clamp 20. or in any other desirable manner,and a set screw 2| may be provided for securing the fitting to thecarburetor intake pipe.

The said fitting I5 is provided with the branch 22 having a socket 23formed therein to receive the upper end of the said pipe I3, 24 being apassage extending from said socket to the core of the fitting.

The pipe [3 and its bafile core M are intended to formja condenser, andthe dimensions thereof will be governed accordingly, it being preferredthat considerable volumetric capacity relative to the size of thepassages l2 and 24 be provided; a and in operation the suction of theengine will draw oil vapors from the crank case (by way of the breatherpipe through the fitting 5, the condenser casing l3 and the fitting I5)to admix with the intake charge of the engine. This action isaccompanied by the induction to such flow, of ,air through the openingsof the breather -cap,- 'and"this air, together with the area of the pipe-l3;exposed to the outer'air, the capacity of the-pipe +3- to permitexpansion of the induced --air and gases therewithin, the relativelyslow flow of such gases through the pipe resulting from thegreaterrcross sectional area thereof relative to'the openings Hand 24,the "length of the pipe l3, and the: screening efiect of the battlemeans within the pipe',will operate to cool and condense at least :apart of the heavier oils contained in the vapor passing through the saidpipe; whereby such condensate may return, as by gravity, to the crankcase and the more volatile gases pass through the opening 24 to admixwith the intake of the engine Further, the cold air passing downwardlythrough the fitting 5 and meeting the upwardly traveling vapors from thecrank case will tend at that point to chill these rising vapors andinitiate the condensing of the heavier oils therefrom.

In actual practice; the use of the described device has materially addedto the economical and efficient operation of internal combustionengines, especially those which have been worn to a degree wherematerial blow-back by the pistons takes place,'andthe device also servesan additional purpose in assisting in reducing the temperature of thecrank case oil thereby permitting more effective lubrication. At thesame time, dilution of the crank case oil is materially alleviated. I

While in the illustrated example the condenser is shown as beingconnected with the intake end of the carburetor, which arrangement Iprefer, it will be obvious that it may be connected with the intakesystem. of the engine at any suitable point a'ccording'to convenience. A

This invention may be developed within the scope of the following claimswithout departing from the essential features of the said invention andit is desired that the specification and drawing be read as being merelyillustrative and not in a limiting sense, except as necessitated by theprior art. a

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the crank case and charge intake system of aninternal combustion engine, a venturi in said intake system. a conduitconnecting the upper part of said crank case with said venturi to supplyvapors from said crank case thereto as an auxiliary to the enginecharge, and an oil condenser interposed in said.

conduit, said venturi acting in a directionto overcome the resistance ofsaid condenser to the passage of vapors therethrough. I

2. As an attachment for internal combustion engines having a crank casebreather pipe and a charge intake system, a tubular extension for saidbreather pipe, a tubular fitting for interposition in said intakesystem, and a condenser in the form of a pipe enclosing a core offilterv ing material extending in an upward direction from saidextension to said fitting, said condenser thereby draining into saidextension,

3. As an attachment for internal combustion engines having a crank casebreather pipe, a

breather cap, and a charge intake system; a tubular extension for saidbreather pipe; said extension being open at the top toreceive. saidbreather cap, a tubular fitting having a Venturi bore for interpositionin said intake system, and a condenser communicating with said extensionand said fitting. 1

LORENZ M'ECKL.

